Gas producing apparatus



June 11, 1940. 1 NOLAN GAS PRODUCING APPARATUS Fil ed Feb. 23, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN T 0R Frank J. lVoEan $4 6::

ATTORNFY June 11, 1940. F. J. NOLAN 2,204,318

7 GAS raovucnm APPARATUS Filed Feb. 23, "1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Fran/f 4/-/VO&L7@ BY m a).

A TTORNEY duction of a. dry men -gascumming-e11 the chine.

' distributor part, partly in section. 40"

p v 2 20431 s v As PnoD-UoING APPARATUS v t Apiil-icafionjrebruar "23, 1939 ,Seria1vNo. 257,975

v p --3 cl ims (01. sen-199i invention relates to 'gas producing flaps pa-rams wherein fair is "compelied'to travel a circuitous passage through an'vapo'r saturated diffusion chamber under-"constant pressure "to produce'a dry fixed gas from liquid hydrocarbons, particularly gasoline, in variable volume as required. 1

me of the objects (if this invention. is the "producing or a dryfix'ed 'gas containing all the elements-of the liquid-hydrocarbon used, within the limits of normalfatmo'spheric temperatures.

' A further object of this invention is "the proelements of .the iiquid hydrocarbon used within afpredetermined temperature range without regard to the normal atmospheric temperature or degree or, volatility ofsu'cfhflliquid hydrocarbon.

Another object of this invention is to provide an ar'iparatus whereby a variable jvolume jdf dry 'fixed gas containingfall the elements; of the hydrocarbon used, maybe "producedwyitl'iin; the "limits of normal atmospheric temperatures, or within a predetermined temperature range to adapt it tor usefunol'er speifie "conditions; the

pressure to remain 'c Further objects and advantages 'willqjbe apparent from theffollowing "description of the invention as 'is c heriiiafterfully disclosed.

In'the'accompanying'drain mes;

, Figure '1 is a side, eleya'tion of the invention,

partly in "section t v Fig. 2 is a sectional. elevation taken on line c L'--a'in Figure '1,sho1v'vin'g;vthei farrangernent of the wicking in relatio'nto "the 'air distribution system,

Fig. 3 is a perspective viewshowing Fan air Fig. 4fis a'sectional plan viewtaken line b'-b in Figure 1, showingthe wick arrangement "of the machine. I 5i's a frontelev and air distribution through the respectiveiparts Qbion of the device showing the centrifugal pump body. Ehousing and impeller, with the housing cover removed. and a sectional view of l'the intake manifold, and i Fig. 6 a crossfsfectional view in-elevation off the,

centrifugal pump" and piyotallyi-disposed clapper valve closure, f a;

The reference characters indicate "the same parts in the several drawings. j

In the practice ofgthe invention, i as shown in Figure 1-, the body rpor tion l t-rcomprises a=asiibstantially rectangular sheetametal tank, therbot;

tom of which forms a secondary rectangular tank i-a'fbr containing a desired liquid hydrocarbon. A longitudinal Wall 2 subdivides the interiorfiof the'tankintotwo parts, and the f lower edgejc'f the said wall clears the bottom '5 of the secondary tank by a fractional part of an I inch to" permit the "liquid contentlto rise to a level on both sides thereof, as shcwn'in Fig. 2.

A top or closure portion {provides a removable gas tight cover forthe tank body portion 10 l and may be secured-by suitablefr'neans. The air difiusion system, as shown in Fig.4, is disposed within the upper subdivided body portion of the tank body or diffusion, chamber, and'consi-sts of a series of thre'e tubu'lar air "conducting 5 members'fi jcined'to 'a common receptacle member 5; said receptacle members for each "subdivision being d'etachab-ly secured on the' inside of the body portion-opposite to theinta-ke'end 129, and the outlet-endvi3l "thereof; a 520 BA rectangular 'manifoldvat the rear end of the rboiy Jportion, :by' means of suitable. openings therein, connects the longitudinally divided secctions 0f 'the diffusion chamber. A series of air distributdrsor diffusion me'ans 9, arern'ounted on the: tubes '4; the apertures 4--'a in :saidair distributors in :each -Series being equivalent to intakefiand nutlet areas in the tank body. VA 1 rounded wick supporting',member' -Hl-is longiitudin'ally. disposed o ver each series of air dis- 30 itrijbutors 9, and each series of air distributors v is staggered .:'so that the apertures therein are v :not in' line witheach other.

' The tube rnembers fi are so arranged that each series of wick members l I may extend; upward fromfthe diffusion chamber 'shelf 1 -1) and 00- cup'y the interveningspace between said tubes and pass thereover intothe lower liquid containinguzportion34a of the tank :bodyi'to 'pro- :vide -a continuous.circulation offiliquid hydro-- 'carbon. A blanket':0f.f,.WOVn material .421. of desir'a'ble ldensity completely covers the top, sides, and one end of each divisional assembly.- A;;1iquid.;leve1,floatcontrolled member 9M is mounted adjacent the lower liquid containing porti0n la.of the tank body at the rear; end' thereof; the liquidihydrocarboni entering the level control memberfl fthrou'g'h alpipe l5 from the i. supply tank, j(supplyftank j'not shown) "thence .fthrough the control member and'into thetanl; portion throughthepipe "1B. "Ajpr'essure equal 'izing'pipe I"! connectsthemaniibm in the diffusion chamber with thefloatbhamber'inL the control member." hJS' iquid level control membenisweii endwn iri' the 'ajrt anu 'is manufactured by the Detroit Lubricator Company of Detroit, Michigan.

A standard fractional horse-power motor 24- is mounted on a suitable base member 24a secured to the top or closure 3 of the tank body 5. A pressure pump I8 is mounted on the rear end of the motor housing, and its impeller means (not shown) is connected by suitable reduction gears to the motor shaft. On the suction side of the pump a pipe l9 extends into the liquid containing portion of the tank body l-a. The liquid hydrocarbon drawn up through the pipe I9 is forced through the pipe 20 which is connected with spray nozzles 2| located in each section of the diffusion chamber, and through a nozzle 22 located in the manifold chamber 8. A centrifugal fan. 23, of special design which permits definite determination of the pressure generated, by means of centrifugal clearance in one direction, and lateral clearance on either side of the impeller within thefan housing. The'impeller 23a is mounted on the motor shaft, the fan housing being mounted on the motor housing. The outlet opening of the assembled fan is held in a normal closed position by a balanced clapper valve pivotally suspended in the outlet opening as shown in Fig. 6.

A turbulence silencing chamber 26 is operatively mounted above the intake-opening 21 in the fan housing cover 28, and communicates therewith. Under ordinary conditions, when air is used at normal atmospheric temperature, a closure is provided for the turbulence chamber (closure not shown). Under conditions where it may be desirable to preheat the air taken in by the fan, a thermostatically controlled heating unit may be inserted in said chamber 26 which incidentally serves as a closure therefor.

The fan assembly is connected to the intake side 29 of the diffusion chamber portion of the tank body by a manifold 30'which is bolted to the tank body as shown in Fig. 5. The outlet side 3| of the diffusion chamber is provided with a balanced clapper valve closure 32 which is pivotally suspended in the outlet manifold housing 3!a, and remains in a normal closed position by gravity on a seat which is machined at an angle of approximately ten degrees to insure complete closure. Both intake and outlet clapper valves are balanced so that the slightest flow of gas from the outlet opening through a burner (burner not shown) will cause simultaneous opening of said valves; and closing the gas cook to such burner causes said valves to return to a normal seated position, the gas within the body portion or diffusion chamber remaining static and ready for use.

Complete saturation of the air introduced to the wick assembly in the diffusion chamber is ensured by the perpetual circulation of the liquid hydrocarbon by means of a multiplicity of bleached loosely twisted or roved cotton yarn wicks I l one end of which reach into the bottom of the fluid containing portion of the tank body l-a, and by capillary attraction raise the liquid over the wick supporting members l0, and by precipitation at the other end deposit the unvolatilized portion of such hydrocarbon on the shelf member l-b where the liquid returns to the lower tank portion la. The circulation of the hydrocarbon is continuous as long as the liquid remains in the container, and is not dependent upon other than the natural laws gov,-

erning capillary attraction in one direction, and precipitation in the other for its continuation.

A sub-tank [-0, separate from and adjacent to the under face of the fluid containing portion l-a of the tank body I is provided so that when it may be found desirable to maintain the temperature most suitable to volatilization of the fluid hydrocarbon being used, a heat conducting medium such as oil may be used in the sub-tank, and a thermostatically controlled heating unit 33 provided therefor.

The air diffusing system is not limited to the type disclosed in the drawings. It may be varied as to form to maintain an equivalent distribution of air. The time element is a critical in the art of making this type of fixed dry gas, the elapsed time between the entrance of outside air into the diffusion chamber, its absorption of hydrocarbon fractions to a point of saturation without precipitation, and emergence as a dry fixed gas is definitely controlled by the areas in the air difiusing means and the intake and outlet areas in the diifusion chamber. The foregoing statement is predicated upon the discovery that, in an apparatus of the character described, where both intake and outlet areas are 1.76 square inches, employing an air pressure constant of 3 ounces (water pressure) and a maximum output of 12 cubic feet per hour, there is produced a logy or heavy dry fixed gas of maximum B. t. u. content within the limits of the type of liquid hydrocarbon used therein, and which, when gasoline is employed exceeds 500 B. t. u. per cubic foot.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows:

The constant speed motor 24 driving the centrifugal fan, propels a current of air of definite pressure through the clapper valve 25 on the intake side of the diffusion chamber into the receptacle member 5 from which it is diffused through the several tube members 4 and through the apertures 4a in the air distributors 9 mounted on said tubes. The diffused air takes up the hydrocarbon fractions from the surrounding wicking system, said wicking system in addition to capillary attraction and precipitation of the hydrocarbon is assisted by the spraying means 2| to become completely saturated. The gas vapor continues to flow through the hydrocarbon sprayed interior of the diffusing chamber through the manifold 8 from where it continues through a second air diffusing chamber and sprayed wicking system to the outlet side 3| which is connected to the distribution system for use. The static reserve within the diffusion chamber permits instantaneous use of the gas when the centrifugal fan motor is started. There is no production of gas until a burner is opened in the distribution line, and a variable volume of dry fixed gas is delivered for consumption at a constant pressure within the capacity of the dence disposed between and over the air diffusing means and extending into the lower liquid hydrocarbon container to provide a continuous circulation of liquid hydrocarbon through the diffusion chamber, and an air impelling means to force a current of air'thr'ough the carburetting means 1 1; assembly t predeter; I extending into the liquid hydrocarbon receptacle mined pressure and in variable volume.

2., In an apparatus for producing 'a dry fixed gas from liquid hydrocarbons, a longitudinally bisected body portion having two diffusion chambers connected bya manifold, the lower part of said body portion forming a communicatgas from liquid hydrocarbons, a body portion sub- V divided into several diifusion chambers connected ing hydrocarbon container, balanced automatic closure members pivotally disposed in the inlet and outlet opening in the diffusion chambers of the body portion, a wick supporting air diffusing means disposed in said diffusion chambers, a multiplicity of roved yarn wicks disposed between and over the'carburettin'g means, said wicks being of unequal pendence,'one end extending into the lower liquid hydrocarbon container to provide a continuous circulation of hydrocarbons, and an air impelling means toforce a current of air through the carburetting neans and wick assembly at a predetermined pressure and in variable volume.

3. In an apparatus for producing a dry fixed gas from liquid hydrocarbons, a longitudinally bisected body portion having two diffusion chambers connected by a manifold, thelower part of disposed in said diffusion chambers, amulti-- plicity of roved yarn wicks disposed between and over the air diffusing means, saidwicks being of unequal pendence, one end extending into the lower liquid hydrocarbon container toprovide a. continuous circulation of hydrocarbon, a hydrocarbon spraying means disposed in the diffusion chambers and manifold therebetween, and anair:

, impelling means to force a currentof airthro ugh the carburetting means and wick assembly at a predetermined pressure and in variable volume.- 4. Same as claim 3, and means for heating the liquid hydrocarbon to a predetermined tempera;

ture.

5. In an apparatus for producing a dry fixed gas from liquid'hydrocarbons, a body portion having a circuitous passageway through the dif- I wick assembly at. a predetermined pressure. and

fusion chamber therein, the lower part of said body portion forming a-receptacle for liquid hydrocarbons, a wick supporting air diffusing means disposed in the diffusion'chamberyamultiplicity of roved. yarnwicks of unequal length or pendence disposed between and over the air diffusion means, the longer end of said'wicks pressure and in variablevolume.

to provide a continuous circulation of liquid hydrocarbons, and an air impelling means to force a current of air through the diffusing means and wick assemblyv at *a predetermined 6. In anapparatusfor producing a dry fixed by suitable manifold-the lower part of said body portion forming a receptacle for liquid "hydrocarbons, a wick. supporting air diffusing means disposed in the several diffusion chambers, a multiplicity of roved yarn wicks of unequal pendence disposed between and over the carburetting means, the longer end of said wicks extending into the liquid hydrocarbon receptacleto-provide a continuous circulation of hydro- ;carbons, balanced automatic closure members,

pivotally suspended in the intake and outlet openings in the diffusion chambers of the body p ortion, and an air impelling means to force air through thecarburetting means and wick as sembly at a predetermined pressure and in variable volume.

; 7. In an apparatus for produclng-aidry fixed ..'gas from liquid hydrocarbonsya longitudinally bisected body portion forming two. diffusion chambersconnected"byja manifold, the lower Y part of said-body, portion forminga common hydrocarbon receptacle, balanced automatic closure members pivotally disposed in the intake and "outlet openings in the diffusion chambers of thebody portion, a wick supporting air difiusing'g means disposed 'in said diffusion chambers, a multiplicity of roved' yarn 'wicks disposed be:- tween and over the'carburetting means, said "wicks being of unequal pendence, thelong ends; 7 thereof extending intothe liquid hydrocarbon re? vceptacle to provide a continuous circulation'of' liquid hydrocarbonsin the diffusion chambers, a -hydrocarbon spraying means disposed in the diff-2.1

fusion chambers and connecting manifold 'therebetween, an air impelling means, means for pre-- 1 heating air disposed within the air impelling means, said air impelling, means-to becapablof forcing air through the air diffusing means and in variable volume. o

8., Same as claim '7, and means for heating the ture.

FRANKI'JLV'NQLAN, 

